Intersection Of Menzies Parade & Hewson Lane

BRINGING to the discussion a trousseau consisting of an old Earl Page portrait, a ute with Mack Truck mudflaps, a couple of head of cattle and a still unrequited heart for dear socialism, the National Party has often been an unattractive bride to its hitherto common-law Coalition partner. Brendan Nelson remains keen on that merger idea and even Mark Vaile appears willing to play along peacefully - at least until this latest tilt at the unification windmill in the back paddock breaks into a believable canter. This is a high risk issue for the Opposition Leader to use as a means of stamping his authority and identity on post-Howard conservatism in Australia. The rewards could be substantial if Nelson becomes a man of dynamic reform in the electorate's eyes.

But some Liberals are not sure there's so much reason actuating the initiative. For one thing, the advantages, if they come at all, could not conceivably accrue for a new organisation until Kevin Rudd is well into his second term. The chances of Nelson surviving those years of Federal and State inter-party brawling seem very remote. Yes, Rudd's observation on the merger discussions - that the Coalition parties don't know what they stand for - is script-written boilerplate, not least because he was elected last year with the widely understood mission of imitating John Howard. The danger for the Opposition, though, is real and it's this: that rhyme is here trumping reason - with Nelson mimicking the Prime Minister's symbolism in lieu of sticking to the Coalition's guns on the grinding policy questions of the day.